West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-03-17
THE LABOR FEDERATION.
Consolidated OF Connecticut Unions
-Boycotting Must be Discontinued.


Consolidation OF Connecticut Unions
-BoycOtting Must be Discontinued.
Tho Connecticut Federation OF Trades anil
Labor Unions was formed at Hartford, Conn,
under the auspices OF tho Federation OF Labor
OF America.
This Is the nrst State that has ava He'd tt
self OF the services OF new federation which
Is Designed TO bring the trades unions into
closer relations, while permitting each TO pre-
serve It's autonomy. Tho convention was held
under tho auspices OF tho Ccutral Labor
Union af Hartford city. There were about
afty delegates present who were strict
ly trades,unionis,s, although several OF them
arc also knights Of labor.
w. T. Cree, Secretary OF tho Central Ia
bor Union. called the Convention TO order
and Welcomed It's delegates. Ho said that
State organic alton OF labor was necessary
because OF the aggression OF capital and par
tisan lcgislation In its favor Labor de-
mandcd no such legislation, but only equal
Justice, and in order TO sccuro tho right it
was necessary TO disseminate their principles.
Anarchism anl disorder were denounced;
their ends must be gained, he said, in law
abiding and pcAooablo manner. Their unions
must he strictly sclf-governing, although they
would bo expected 60 cooperate with Zach
other in mutual defense They should elect
officers from their own ranks, who should he
conservative and law abiding. Thoy must
not give these officers power TO turn Dem
! ocratic organization into an autocrncy. The
executive power mu Il always remliu In tho
| hands OF tho mcmbers and tho OIL ora OF the
unions should be paid only for the exact rNPe
lost. No cNhorbtant salaries should v a
10 any one, whereby class OF profG .Jnal
workingmen would loo created, who would
inevitably bring suffering TO the msmberJ
! and loss to business.
The speaker declared that since boycotting
had been declared "a criminal ofrense IL must
be discontinued. Strikes were bad and
should only bo undertaken after both sides
OF n grievance had been carefully examined.
They frequently demorali2si trades unions,
drove trade away from locllitios, ruinei the
manufacturer, and forced the loss finally on
the workiugmen. This weapon should only
bo used where the injustice was apparent.
Mr.. Cree urged that better support bs given
TO those on strike when a strike WAS deter
mined, aud that those out should
receive fewer resolutions OF sympathy
and more money 90 not he
gullcd into one-sdd arbitration" said
the speaker, "but have power in your own
hands whom satisfactory conclusions free from
| frau can be arrivci at" He advised those
present to keep posted IN State and National
| legislation, aud 10 keep the records of tho log
islntors. a political blacklist, however should
be kep. wh ch should b, placed in the hands
of voters on election day,
| Samuel GJmpers, President Of the Ameri-
eau Fsderatons OF Labor, who was warmly
welcomed, made brief address, He said that
! he believed that trades unions we're tho best
| forms OF labor organizations In spite OF alI
efforts 10 prevent their growth they were
sprcadin rapidly. He slstched what they
! hal done Sl what the Federation proposed
dong.
A man was brought before the police
| court in Wcstlcld, Mass, recently, for
falling to support his family, who once
earned 81 800 year in factory, but oC
late years has refused TO work and tried
| not TO have any Of his family TO find
employment, insisting that thc Lord
| will provide for all their wants. Ho
has become a monOmaniac on religious
subjects, and 10 wal in the hope OF max,
ing him reali/o his duty as a husband
and father hat the charge OF non sup
port was brought. In tho court room
he paced about calling on the Lord to
defend him, and when his family paid
the nominal fne imposed and no was
released he refused 10 believe but that
II was all Ihc Lords doings aud that
The money had teen miraculous!y sent
for his release.